Ogona Anita
Renowned Nigerian mathematician and former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo, has passed away at the age of 89.
A terse statement released by the family confirmed that Olunloyo died in the early hours of Sunday, April 6, 2025.
“Omololu Olunloyo passed on to eternal glory at 1:40 am on the 6th of April 2025. We thank God for a life well spent. May the Lord Jesus rest his soul,” the statement read. However, it did not indicate who issued the message on behalf of the family.
Olunloyo’s death comes just 10 days before his 90th birthday, which would have been celebrated on April 14. Olunloyo was also father to controversial self-styled investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo.
Last year, on April 19, 2024, the former governor had debunked widespread rumors about his death, declaring from the ICU of the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan that he was “still here, not yet gone.”
A Life of Excellence in Public Service and Academia
Born on April 14, 1935, in Ibadan, Olunloyo was a trailblazer in many respects. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the prestigious University of St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1961. His doctoral thesis focused on the numerical determination of solutions to Eigenvalue problems of the Sturm–Liouville type. He would go on to publish several influential papers in number theory and applied mathematics.
Olunloyo’s foray into politics began early. At just 27, he was appointed Commissioner for Economic Development in the Western Region under the leadership of Dr. Moses Majekodunmi in 1962. He later held various portfolios including Community Development, Education, Special Duties, Local Government, and Chieftaincy Affairs, playing a pivotal role in the crowning of notable monarchs such as Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III (Alaafin of Oyo) and the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Oyewunmi.
In October 1983, he became governor of the old Oyo State under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), after defeating Bola Ige of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). However, his time in office was short-lived as the military coup led by General Muhammadu Buhari ousted the civilian government on December 31 of that year.
Olunloyo remained an influential figure in Oyo politics, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before eventually switching allegiance to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2012.
He also served in several strategic positions, including as chairman of the Western Nigerian Development Corporation, and led panels and committees on key developmental and political initiatives in the state.
Personal Life
Olunloyo was born to Horatio Olunloyo, a Christian, and Alhaja Bintu Tejumola Abebi Olunloyo, a devout Muslim who passed away in 2013 at the age of 102. He lost his father in 1948 when he was just 13 years old.
The late politician leaves behind a legacy of excellence, intellectual brilliance, and service to humanity. His passing marks the end of an era in both Nigeria’s academic and political history.
